hotcam stg 2? need some input

[Zeb400EX]

so i did a 416 kit on my 2003 ex this past spring and it runs great. I went with a wiseco 11:1 compression piston. the power was a huge improvement over the 8yr old stock piston. but I would like to get a little more out of it. so I'm thinking of purchasing a stg2 hotcam to bump up the power some more.

my question is, with me doing the stg2 and my head/valves being so old. the head/valves have never been touch. I'm worried that the higher lift of the stg2 will hurt the valve guides since they are probably wore from all the yrs of use. but keep in mind the motor does not smoke at all now so maybe it won't matter. idk tho.
what do you guys think?

[Muzzgit]

If you have the money have the head ported when you put the cam in. The two work well together.

[01boneless]

you should be just fine most guys on here with the stage 2 are still running stock head and valves jmho

[atvrider13]

Agreed^^^^ you will like the stage 2

[05DodgeDakota]

depends on what kind of riding you do as to what stage you should go with. From what I'nm told Stage 1 for woods, stage 2 for motocross, and stage 3 for drags or flattrack/TT

[CJM]

Imhappy with my stage 2 and 426 (former 416). Its got plenty of balls and when theres open areas I can really hit it.

Your valves and guides will be fine. About all I would do is take the valve train apart, clean the valves of deposits using a carb dip (such as berrymans), regrind the valves if they are good, check the springs using a caliper and specs found in the service manual to make sure they are good and then replace the valve seals anyways. Standard stuff really.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by CJM
Imhappy with my stage 2 and 426 (former 416). Its got plenty of balls and when theres open areas I can really hit it.

Your valves and guides will be fine. About all I would do is take the valve train apart, clean the valves of deposits using a carb dip (such as berrymans), regrind the valves if they are good, check the springs using a caliper and specs found in the service manual to make sure they are good and then replace the valve seals anyways. Standard stuff really.

agreed with everything. when i rebuilt i just lapped my valves, replaced the seals, and the springs were still okay according to the service limits but i wanted peace of mind. i replaced all of them and everytime i ride i'm glad i did. pair the cam with a 450r carb and you'll have a ripper for sure.

[CJM]

Not sure if they still got any, but motosport had a kibblewhite valve spring set on clearance for 50 bucks a few months back. Thats where I got mine

[Zeb400EX]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CJM
[B]Imhappy with my stage 2 and 426 (former 416). Its got plenty of balls and when theres open areas I can really hit it.

See thats what i'm looking to get out of the doing the stg2. I ride with a buddy that has a 450r and our suspension setups are very similar. So in the woods we are pretty even. But if theres a open field section he can pass me.

BTW, thank guy for the info. I've thought about the porting too, but I really don't want to spend the money for it. I just had to replace all the gears on the counter shaft this summer after doing the piston.

[05DodgeDakota]

Your still not gonna hold off even a mildly modified 450 with that. You'd have to dump alot of money into the 400 motor to do that. Like a 465 stroker with 13:1 piston, ported head, +1 vavles, huge cam, etc.

[01boneless]

with my 400ex 11:1 piston and stg 2 cam i could stick with and out run some mild 450's but this is just gonna turn into a 400 vs 450 thing so whatever :devil:

[05DodgeDakota]

Originally posted by 01boneless
with my 400ex 11:1 piston and stg 2 cam i could stick with and out run some mild 450's but this is just gonna turn into a 400 vs 450 thing so whatever :devil:

I know that a 450 with pipe, no lid, and properly jetted will outrun just about any 400 execpt the fully built one in a straight up drag race.

BUT,
if I manage to blow up my new motor, I will be build that 450r killer l decribed hehehe

[05DodgeDakota]

Originally posted by 05DodgeDakota
I know that a 450 with pipe, no lid, and properly jetted will outrun just about any 400 execpt a fully built one in a straight up drag race.

BUT,
if I manage to blow up my new motor, I will be build that 450r killer l decribed hehehe

I think you can even go bigger than 465cc, but I'm not sure

[Zeb400EX]

Guys i'm not trying to start the 400 vs 450 battle. I'm just looking for advise for my 400. If I not try to built a 400 that will kill 450's. I just wanting to shorten the power gap between the 400 & 450. I will have to try and make up the different in the tight sections! LOL

[01boneless]

^^^ im not even gonna get into it dude they never turn out well lol but i have a 450r with a pipe no lid jetted and uni and i know my 400ex would eat it alive not after im done building the ltr killer tho :devil:

and ZEB like we all said the stg 2 cam will realy wake up your motor with the setup you have and will be fine with stock valve train

[Zeb400EX]

Yeah boneless, I hope it does wake it up a bit more. I'm glad to see everybody thinks my valve will be fine. So I guess i'm gonna start saving up for the cam. I'll post up went I do to let everybody know how it goes.

As for the 450 thing. I don't really care about it. I know a midly built 450 will be faster, but it should.... IT"S A 450! I will probably buy a 450r in the future, but right now my 400 is pretty close to perfect for me. I feel very comfortable on it since I got the frt and rear shocks the way I wanted them. The thing feels like I'm on rails in the woods. The shock upgrade along with upgrading the frt & rear brakes system has made me faster than any motor mod. I don't worry about hitting any rough section anymore. I just blast through it and if I come in a corner to hot, I know I can slow down way faster than before.

[dxcody]

Originally posted by Zeb400EX
right now my 400 is pretty close to perfect for me. I feel very comfortable on it since I got the frt and rear shocks the way I wanted them.

That is all that matters, i have had a stage 1 and stage 2.

The stage 2 is far superior in my opinion.
Hot Cams says stage 2 is mid-top but i think its more of an all around power range, because i can ride a wheelie 1-3 like its nothing.. i love it wouldnt trade it for anything..

except maybe a webcam, but those are too much work for me.

[Zeb400EX]

Thats really good to hear about the stg2 vs the stg1. I also hear good things about the web cam, but I think I like the hotcam better just because its a drop in cam. No need for harden rocker arms.